$15.7 million in funding awards for Clay County announced

MANCHESTER, KY - On Oct. 4, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear joined the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and state and local officials to ceremonially break ground on a new state office building in Manchester for transportation employees who serve Kentuckians in the eight-county highway district.

“This new facility will meet a longstanding need for state employees here, providing the resources they need to serve their communities and the commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said. “It is yet another key part in our mission to build our new Kentucky home.”

The KYTC Department of Highways District 11 office is headquartered in Manchester, and staff oversee state highway construction and maintenance for Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie and Whitley counties. The new state-of-the art office building will replace the current, more-than-50-year-old office building, which originally opened in 1969.

Trace Creek Construction was awarded an $11.25 million contract to complete the project. Crews have mobilized to the site and construction is expected to begin this month, with an estimated completion date of early 2026.

“We have to have the infrastructure to support our growing economy in the southeast portion of the state, and today's groundbreaking on this $11.25 million facility marks a significant milestone toward that continued growth,” said Senate President Robert Stivers, who represents four of the eight counties in District 11.  “I’d like to thank Secretary Gray and our Chief District Engineer, Chris Jones, for this modern building that will not only support reliable infrastructure essential for connecting communities but the collaboration among and between local businesses, invigorating that connection in the community that is so important.”

The new facility will be located in Manchester, adjacent to Kentucky Highway 80, a quarter of a mile from the Hal Rogers Parkway’s Manchester exit to ensure convenient access for both staff and visitors. It will feature modern amenities, more parking, larger meeting rooms and more workspaces to support the evolving demands of transportation management.

The facility will house various departments and divisions, including administration, engineering and customer service.

“Today, we’re celebrating progress and new investments in Clay County,” said Clay County Judge/Executive Tommy Harmon. “All of these projects are building a brighter future for our community and are examples of all levels of government working together.”

“We are excited about this significant investment in our infrastructure and the positive impact it will have on our ability to serve the public,” said Chris Jones, chief district engineer for District 11. “The new district office will not only provide a more functional and modern workspace for our dedicated staff but will also offer improved accessibility and convenience for the public.?I would also like to thank Gov. Beshear and Sen. Robert Stivers for their continued support of this project.”

Funding Awards for Clay County
The Governor and Sen. Stivers highlighted two key allocations for Clay County from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund:

- 1 Clay County will receive $10 million for work on multiphase economic development projects; and

- The Clay County Fiscal Court will receive $4 million for a new multipurpose building and renovations to existing county facilities.

They also announced a $600,000, state-funded Add Hollow Road Project that will allow the Clay County Fiscal Court to replace a current county bridge with one that will lead motorists to the new county garage.

“This initiative aims to construct a new, wider bridge with a higher weight capacity to accommodate the influx of vehicles and equipment heading to the new county garage,” said KYTC State Highway Engineer James Ballinger.

The Governor presented a $1 million award to Clay County, which applied for funding on behalf of the Elk Hill Regional Industrial Authority, to upgrade water infrastructure to the Elk Hill Regional Industrial Park. This is a regional project with support from Clay, Knox and Leslie counties.

The Governor also presented $123,989 to the city of Manchester for resurfacing on Millpond Drive and Morgan and Church streets.

To learn more about the Kentucky Department of Highways District 11 and the transportation services it provides, visit https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictEleven/.